Shloka 13
बलीन्द्रसंवादः — Kāla, Anityatā, and the Limits of Agency
Mahābhārata 12.217
Devanagari script
तस्माच्चतुष्टयं वेद्यमेतै्हेतुभिरावृतम् । यथासंज्ञो हायं सम्यगन्तकाले न मुह्ृति
Transliteration
tasmāc catuṣṭayaṁ vedyam etair hetubhir āvṛtam | yathāsaṁjño hy ayaṁ samyag antakāle na muhṛti ||
Translation
毗湿摩曰：是故，当知此四重真实，虽为诸因缘所覆。人若以正见与明辨洞达其义，临终之际便不堕迷妄，而能以定心迎受终局。
Word by Word
तस्मात्therefore / from that
तस्मात्:
Apadana
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
Formneuter, ablative, singular
चतुष्टयम्the set of four
चतुष्टयम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootचतुष्टय
Formneuter, accusative, singular
वेद्यम्to be known / knowable
वेद्यम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootविद्
Formneuter, accusative, singular, gerundive (tavya/ya), passive sense
एतैःby these
एतैः:
Karana
TypePronoun
Rootएतद्
Formmasculine/neuter, instrumental, plural
हेतुभिःcauses / reasons
हेतुभिः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootहेतु
Formmasculine, instrumental, plural
आवृतम्covered / enveloped
आवृतम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootआ-√वृ (वृञ्)
Formneuter, accusative, singular, past passive participle (kta)
यथाas / in such a way that
यथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयथा
असंज्ञःunconscious / without awareness
असंज्ञः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootअसंज्ञ
Formmasculine, nominative, singular
अयम्this (person)
अयम्:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootइदम्
Formmasculine, nominative, singular
सम्यक्properly / correctly
सम्यक्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसम्यक्
अन्तकालेat the final time (time of death)
अन्तकाले:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootअन्तकाल
Formmasculine, locative, singular
नnot
न:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन
मुह्यतिis deluded / becomes confused
मुह्यति:
TypeVerb
Rootमुह्
Formpresent, indicative, parasmaipada, third, singular
Speaker
भीष्म उवाच
Characters & Entities
B
BhishmaCharacter Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches that one should discern a fourfold set of fundamental realities, even though they are obscured by causal factors; such right knowledge prevents confusion and attachment at the moment of death.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction section, Bhishma continues his philosophical counsel, emphasizing that clear metaphysical understanding (rather than mere ritual or emotion) steadies a person when facing death.